The hitman convicted of killing a pediatric dentist in an Uptown parking garage abruptly tried to leave the courtroom Tuesday in the middle of his sister's testimony.

With a loud clang and the jingle of ankle shackles, Kristopher Love pushed away from the table where he sat with his defense attorneys and walked several paces to the courtroom door that leads to the hold-over cells where inmates on trial are kept.

Confused-looking jurors were taken from the courtroom, and bailiffs scrambled to find paper towels for the emotional Love.

Kristopher Love enters the courtroom after a lunch break during the punishment phase of his capital murder trial on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas. Love was convicted in the 2015 murder of pediatric dentist Kendra Hatcher. He could face the death penalty. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Love, who prosecutors say was hired to kill 35-year-old Kendra Hatcher. Love was convicted of capital murder last week.

The same jurors who convicted Love will determine his sentence. If they reject capital punishment, he will receive life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Hatcher was found fatally shot in the head on Sept. 2, 2015, in the parking garage of her Uptown apartment building.

Prosecutors say the killing was orchestrated by 36-year-old Brenda Delgado, who was said to be jealous of Hatcher's relationship with Delgado's ex-boyfriend Ricardo Paniagua.

Kendra Hatcher, a pediatric dentist, was shot and killed in the parking garage of her Uptown apartment.

Delgado's capital murder trial has not been scheduled. She cannot face the death penalty because of an extradition agreement with Mexico, where she fled after Hatcher's killing.

In Love's case, jurors must determine whether the triggerman is a future threat to society, which can include prison, and whether there are reasons to save his life.

Prosecutors painted a picture of a career criminal who first got in trouble at 17 for stealing a car. Defense attorneys have portrayed Love as a model inmate and a beloved member of his family.

Two of Love's brothers, his sister, his mother, his father, his stepmother and his ex-girlfriend testified on his behalf Tuesday.

Each described him as a loving father of three.

They also said his childhood had been disrupted by his parents' frequent breakups. His mother estimated that she and Love's father separated at least 20 times before ultimately divorcing.

Meisha Beasley, sister of Kristopher Love, testified Tuesday during the punishment phase of his trial.

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

Kim Love, father of Kristopher Love, testifies during the punishment phase of a capital murder trial for Kristopher Love on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas. Love was convicted in the 2015 murder of pediatric dentist Kendra Hatcher. He could face the death penalty. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

Kim Love, father of Kristopher Love, points to a photo of Kendra Hatcher and apologizes to her family during the punishment phase of a capital murder trial for Kristopher Love on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas. Love was convicted in the 2015 murder of pediatric dentist Kendra Hatcher. He could face the death penalty. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

Vea Love, mother of Kristopher Love, testifies during the punishment phase of a capital murder trial for Kristopher Love on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas. Love was convicted in the 2015 murder of pediatric dentist Kendra Hatcher, pictured at left. He could face the death penalty. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

Kasey Love, brother of Kristopher Love, testifies during the punishment phase of a capital murder trial for Kristopher Love on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas. Love was convicted in the 2015 murder of pediatric dentist Kendra Hatcher. He could face the death penalty. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

Love hadn't shown much emotion or reacted visibly during the trial until his sister, Meisha Beasley, testified Tuesday.

While she spoke of their bond and childhood, Love stood to leave.

Several bailiffs hurried over to him to put him back in a cell while jurors were escorted from the courtroom. It was about 20 minutes before he was brought back in and testimony resumed.

Defense attorney Paul Johnson told State District Judge Tracy Holmes that Love had assured him he would stay in control of his emotions. Johnson said Love hadn't threatened anyone and hadn't tried to escape but simply wanted to take a break from testimony.

Love stayed seated the rest of the day but cried as his sister continued to testify.

She said her four children love their uncle, whom she called her "little big brother."

"He was their first word," Beasley said.

Beasley, like several other of Love's relatives, apologized to Hatcher's family.

Prosecutor Glen Fitzmartin told Beasley he had noticed her looking at the photos of Hatcher propped by the witness stand.

"Do you know who that is?" he asked.

"Yes," Beasley said.

"Do you know her name?" Fitzmartin asked.

"No," Beasley responded.

Fitzmartin asked whether Beasley really thought her brother was a good role model to her children.

"He decided that day to go and execute, her name is Kendra Hatcher by the way," Fitzmartin said.

The prosecutor said Love had been hired to kill an innocent woman.

"I wouldn't want them to look up to that part of him. No, not at all," Beasley said.

Several of Love's relatives said he has tried to stay positive for their sake while in jail. He has told his 14-year-old daughter that he would be home to see her soon, her mother, Siccoria Hite, testified.

Hite said her daughter has been angry and confused since her father's arrest.

"She's a daddy's girl, pretty much," Hite said. "She misses her dad."

The teen was born while Love was in prison in Tennessee for an aggravated robbery. He was released from prison when she was 3.

Hite, like Beasley, apologized to Hatcher's family.

"I'm just so, so sorry for what happened to you," Hite said. "I understand you're hurt, and I'm just so so sorry for it. I really am."

Bonnie Jameson, mother of Kendra Hatcher, clutched a small angel as she listened to testimony Tuesday.

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

Bonnie Jameson, mother of Kendra Hatcher, watches as Kristopher Love, who is in the punishment phase of a capital murder trial, enters the courtroom after he left on his own in the middle of his sister's testimony on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas. Love was convicted in the 2015 murder of pediatric dentist Kendra Hatcher. He could face the death penalty. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

Bonnie Jameson, center, mother of Kendra Hatcher, reacts to testimony during the punishment phase of a capital murder trial for Kristopher Love on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas. Love was convicted in the 2015 murder of pediatric dentist Kendra Hatcher. He could face the death penalty. The fatal shooting was allegedly orchestrated by jilted lover, Brenda Delgado, who was jealous Hatcher was dating Ricardo Paniagua, left, Delgado's ex-boyfriend. Love was convicted in the 2015 murder of pediatric dentist Kendra Hatcher. He could face the death penalty. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

Ricardo Paniagua listens during the punishment phase of a capital murder trial for Kristopher Love on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas. The fatal shooting was allegedly orchestrated by jilted lover, Brenda Delgado, who was jealous Hatcher was dating Paniagua, Delgado's ex-boyfriend. Love was convicted in the 2015 murder of pediatric dentist Kendra Hatcher. He could face the death penalty. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

Hatcher's family and friends have said the dentist was kind and loved children. They described her as a driven woman with an infectious laugh who lived to help people.

Hatcher's mother, Bonnie Jameson, sat with her arms around two of her other daughters during much of Tuesday's testimony.

She wiped her eyes after Love's father, Kim Love Sr., also tearfully apologized to the family.

Kim Love said he loved his son and couldn't believe he would kill a woman for money and drugs.

"The Kristopher Love that I know is not like that," he said.

Several jurors wiped away tears during the father's testimony. Kim Love broke down several times, sobbing into tissues.

He looked at Hatcher's family on the courtroom benches and told them they were why he was testifying.

"I'm so sorry, y'all," he said. "I just wanted to make sure I apologized to the folks sitting there."

The prosecution and defense are expected to close Wednesday, and jurors will begin deliberating Love's fate.